SECI planning two 10MW floating solar projects in India

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is implementing two floating solar (FPV) projects of 10MW capacity each in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, the head of the projects’ design team has confirmed.

S. P. Gon Chaudhuri, head of Arka Renewable Energy College, part of NB Institute for Rural Technology (NBIRT), told PV Tech that the projects will use crystalline silicon cells and the modules will have 310Wp output with the floating structure and anchoring designed by Arka.

At present, these would be the largest floating solar projects in India. The largest in the world to date stands at 40MW in China, but it is due to be surpassed this year in the same Anhui region.

Arka is preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for both Indian plants. The DPR for the first project in the Ananthpur District of Andhra Pradesh is ready. The second one for Kerala in the formulation stage.

Chaudhury added: “We do not know when these projects will be completed. However, as per our record SECI will execute the project and the World Bank will fund the project.”

The estimated cost for each project is just short of INR700 million (US$10.77 million).

NETRA (NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance), the R&D arm of Utility NTPC, installed a 100kW floating solar plant at Kayamkulam, also in Kerala, in March.